Rivers & Seas National Parks Trips & Packages Tours & Trips

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

What travelers are saying

"I had an injury a month before the start date of the Monkey run Romania 2019. I contacted the organizer and asked to let me change my adventure to a one next year. That would have given enough time to heal and also insure them that a slot will be booked in advance. At the end, I even suggested to swap my seat with one of my friends who was interested. The money was already paid, right? They declared that if my friends wanted to join he had to pay the full fee. RIDICULOUS. They basically were pushing me to come no matter what my injury was, putting myself at risk just so I won't lose my money but maybe my life riding a bike. They overall charge a lot and rely on people's personal insurance to get a refund in case things happen. In addition, they do not provide any discount if you sign up in advance. Therefore, if you want to go and are ok to spend that much of money for a poorly organized event with barely any emergency support, I would suggest to book at the last minute as no matter what if you can't make it. You will lose your money. Ride safe and think about it. Personally, I am done with them and I will NEVER sign up for any of their events again."

What travelers are saying

"We just disembarked from the Nuremberg to Budapest cruise and I needed to tell you before writing to Trip Advisor and other sites how disappointed we are with the total lack of hygiene and assistance provided! I have never experienced a situation where servers and food prep workers who were coughing and sneezing and obviously sick were allowed to work and spread germs to passengers or customers! We as well as many others on your ill fated cruise became sick due to your negligence. No one was required to sanitize their hands when entering or leaving the dinning room or ship. the rails were never wiped down or disinfected, and people who were coughing or sneezing then used the rails only made things worse. When we were in Vienna I was too ill to leave the ship, the front desk person Jozeph was going to the post office and I asked him if he could purchase for me some decongestants. He only drew on the map how I could walk there???? Is this the special five star treatment you offer and advertise? Many passengers on board became sick and it is your fault. There were other issues like the quality of food at dinner and the poor service, but the above is outrageous and reportable to prevent others from this situation."

What travelers are saying

"While China is a very hectic, very overwhelming country, it is also a country filled with incredible natural beauty. For the average tourist, these beautiful sites are largely inaccessible or extremely difficult to access due to a combination of language barriers and lack of public transportation. One of these gorgeous areas is located between Yichang and Chongqing: the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. With this in mind, many cruise companies have begun offering multi-day trips down the Yangtze River, making the relatively inaccessible easily accessible. One such cruise company is Victoria Cruises. They have a range of vessels and itineraries to suit one’s needs. We decided to hop aboard their most prestigious boat, the Victoria Jenna, for a five night/four day cruise luxurious cruise through the gorges. Newly renovated this year, the ship exudes class and comfort. The rooms aboard the Victoria Jenna were clean and quite spacious considering we were on a ship. To compliment the five-star standard within the rooms itself, the Victoria Jenna offered ample facilities for it’s guests. Whether you want to lounge on the rooftop or grab a drink at the lovely Yangtze Club bar, there’s something for everyone. The dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were fantastic; the Victoria Jenna offered an array of food from Asian to Western cuisine. Of course, one of the main reason people cruise is for the excursions. We were lucky enough to go on all of the included and optional tours offered on the Victoria Jenna, and I’m thrilled that we did. They outsource local guides that are truly knowledgable about each and every site. Last but not least, I was astounded by the staff; never have I seen a staff so attentive and friendly. A very special shoutout goes to Dick, our Cruise Director, who made sure that everything we needed was taken care of; Steven, our River Guide, who not only knew the in’s and out’s of the Yangtze, but also taught Mahjong and Chinese 101, on top of playing MC for the week; and Maggie, our fantastic waitress for every meal in the Executive Lounge, who not only knew us by name, but knew all of our food and drink preferences as well. I wouldn't cruise down the river with any company other than Victoria Cruises! It was truly the highlight of my month-long journey in China. Thanks again! Sarah Founder, The Five Foot Traveler"

What travelers are saying

"I just returned from Aurora’s NW passage trip from Greenland to Nome Alaska. I wish to warn potential passengers that out of 26 sea days, we had 10 landings, out of which we were free to walk on our own once. The director,Ashley, told passengers on day one that if they disobeyed her, they would be confined to their cabin. When we got to Alaska, Aurora had not hired sufficient personnel with US licenses to allow for any landings. So we were 60 miles out at sea for almost a week and could not even see the shoreline. Much of the controlling behavior of Ashley was in the guise of safety from the polar bears, but her behavior was over the top. Also the head bear rifle guy, Nils, screamed at passengers on shore at the top of his lungs when they were a few feet off a poorly marked trail in a flat landscape with at least a mile visibility in all directions. He also screamed at passengers to rush over uneven ground because of a bear in the distance. This is just plain dangerous for 70 -80 year old passengers. I have traveled extensively, including an Antarctic cruise, and never had such an unpleasant experience. Even considered bailing out from Cambridge Bay partway through the cruise. Customers beware. You have been warned."

What travelers are saying

"We would highly recommend seeing the Galapagos Islands on the Santa Cruz II operated by Metropolitan Touring. The 90 passenger ship was very nice with lots of pleasant common space to relax when you were on board - a large library, bar, lovely outdoor covered deck area. The food and service were very good. All the staff seemed eager to please. There is a medical doctor on board the entire time. Transportation to/from each island was very well organized so there was very little idle waiting time. Our naturalist guide, Lola, was excellent. She was extremely knowledge and made sure we saw and learned as much as possible. There was a morning and afternoon activity every day so your time seeing wildlife was maximized. Sea kayaking and mountain biking were also offered, and there is a glass bottom boat for those who don't want to snorkel. Metropolitan also arranged our hotel accommodations and transportation to/from the airport. We were completely satisfied with everything."

What travelers are saying

"Our most recent trip with Hidden Places, the La Rioja Bicycle tour, has only confirmed our high regard for the quality and attention to detail that make their trips beyond parallel. Starting in Pamplona, we enjoyed seven days of riding through gorgeous, verdant green countryside, through lovely historic hilltop villages, through wildflowers, vineyards, fields of wheat and oats, and alongside many pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. We toured an underground winery in Laguardia, a monastery dating to the 11th century, the Frank Gehry designed winery in Elciego and the most amazing wine museum, Vizcano, with a world class collection of everything wine! Our lodgings, always beautiful and a welcome sight after a day’s ride, varied from a repurposed flour mill to historic convents. And the food . . . beyond description, always fresh, always beautifully presented, and always nearly too much ☺ The trip was more than we ever could have imagined, the hallmark of Hidden Places Travel. It would be remiss not to mention the best part of it all, our guides Lukas and Laura who took great care of us, made us laugh, taught me more wildflowers and kept us all going and enjoying. Again, Dag and Maria always get the best! Thank you!"

What travelers are saying

"We have had three more than wonderful travel experiences through Nature Expeditions to Tanzania, Vietnam, and Peru. The more exotic the location - the more their services and guidance are needed."